The rock-steady anthem weaves together Passafire’s take on global warming, economic uncertainty, and technology’s threat to personal privacy with the band’s dedication to survival, intent on thriving by any means necessary.
“We are very grateful to be where we’re at with awesome fans that sustain and support us,” said Passafire’s bassist Will Kubley. “But every band wants to get to the next level” quickly pointed out lead guitarist/lead singer Ted Bowne. “We keep reaching new milestones and having new meaningful events, but we still have many ambitions we want to achieve. So we’ve got to keep going until we do.”
Passafire released their 7th full length album, STRATA, in September 2021 on their own independent label, Flameguy Records. You can find Passafire on tour now in support of the release.
Since forming in 2003, Passafire has released a total of seven studio albums and boasts credits like producing with Paul Leary (Sublime, Pepper, U2, Slightly Stoopid), #1 albums on both the Billboard and iTunes Reggae charts, and sharing stages with rock-reggae OGs 311 and Pepper, and legends Toots & the Maytals, the Wailers, and John Brown’s Body, who in the band’s early years, inspired them to explore reggae with a gritty edge.
“We like to mix tight, clean reggae grooves with distorted guitar riffs” insisted Ted, “We’re ‘90s kids,” added Will, “we love rock, hip-hop and metal equally. It was always natural for us to straddle the line between genres.”
Passafire’s name is a take-off on The Wailers’ classic Catch a Fire album and the band’s hypervigilance towards honoring the culture without appropriating it combined with their unwavering dedication to the expansion of their skills as musicians, producers and songwriters, has led the band to create a sound that stands out from their peers.
Members
Ted Bowne – Guitar/Lead Vox
Mike DeGuzman – Keys/Guitar
Nick Kubley – Drums
Will Kubley – Bass/Vox
Passafire may as well be considered their own genre. The amount of creativity within the group blows my mind every time I see them perform. It's impossible to describe to someone such an image using the rock/reggae genre approach, because that doesn't even explain half of it. The band has come quite a long way since their first album in 2006. Start from Scratch initiated a fundamental sound, as Mike DeGuzman(keyboards) introduced a modern funky electric feel to their music. I was more than impressed with Start from Scratch and even more blown away when I heard Vines, as their style progresses drastically every album. At the same time, Ted Bowne (lead guitar, vocals) is consistent with his techniques for creating engaging music, while maintaining diversity among their songs. This is not an easy thing to do for a ‘reggae’ band. Instead of limiting themselves to generic templates of quick off beat guitar rhythms, they experiment by blending genres within songs to keep listeners interested. Passafire is unexpected and I love it!
Solidifying my admiration for these four people, after they played one of my favorites for the Encore - “Ghost Man“, they all hung out to talk and sign things for the fans, which in my opinion is totally cool of them to do, considering they had to leave the next day at 7am to drive from VA to NJ. This was the second time I’ve seen them, both in small venues, and I would highly suggest seeing them in a smaller place. Being right in front of them while they melt your face off with “Souvenir” gives you the most amazing rush of adrenaline. Finally, I can cross that off my bucket list Some are apprehensive whether the singers’ voice will sound the same as the studio version when performing. At the shows I’ve attended, it sounds like you’re sitting next to Ted in the recording studio he’s so on point. If you don’t know Passafire, get acquainted! >All in all< Passafire seems like a genuine group of guys creating some incredible music. I am looking forward to seeing them again soon.